Intermittently-operated time-recording apparatus.



A. P. A. J. PLASSGHAERT. INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED TIME nnoonnme APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1906.. j 929,107. Patented July 27, 1909.

A. P. J. PLASSGHAER'I'.' INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED TIME REGORDING A PPARATUS.

' APPLICATION I'ILED MAY 17, 1906. $599,107. Patented July 27, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. P. A. J. PLASSGHAERT. INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED TIME RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 190 6- 929,-107. Patented July 27, 1909.-

4 SHEBTB -BHEBT 3.

v A.. P; A. J, PLASSOHAERT.

INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED TIME RECORDING APPARATUS.

the records are printed.

I companying dra.

ALFRED PHILIPPE AUGUSTE JEAN PLASSGHAERT, OF WAGHTEBEKE-LEZ-GAND, BELGIUM.

INTERmTTENTLY-OPEBATED TIME-RECORDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application filed Kay 17, 1906. Serial No. 317,878.

To all whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that I, ALFRED PHILIPPE Aue GUSTE JEAN PLASSCHAERT, a subject of the King of the Belgians, residmg at Wachtebekelez-Gand, Bel ium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inter-.

mittently-Operated Time-Recording Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to a time recording apparatus of the kind inwhich the position of the indicating hands is recorded by rinting cards or paper-bands, the printing eing effected by forcing the inkingribbon and paper against the indicating hands. In machines of this type it is necessary that the contact of the printing surface with surface to be rinted should be as sharp as possible in or er to produce a clear impression, while the mechanism effecting this contact should not interrupt the movement of the recording mechanism, nor affect the time mechanism and cause the apparatus to get out of order.

In the ap aratus accordin to the resent invention t e printing is obtained y the rapid rolling movement of a printing roller which being thrown forward in a track acts to bring the paper successively into contact with the printing surface. 'T e mechanism for effecting this movement of the roller to the end ofthe track is connected to means for advancing'a compartmented drum ada t,- ed to receivetokens, pigeon rings or ot er articles, as desired. he roller 1s impelled back to its starting place by a spring upon the release of the means above mentioned. Other features of the invention consist in the improved record printing mechanism and the inking-device. v

The device according to this invention is further provided with safety devices for preventing the casing of the apparatus from being closed before all the parts are in the normal working. position, and to a controlling device for exposing all attempts to fraudulentl open the apparatus by severin automatica ly the paper {and upon whic to this invention according in the .ac-

An apparatus pay of example,

is illustrated, by,

wing Figure 1 1s a front the . are provi view of the apjjratus,

with the casing partly in section: Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the apparatus; Fig. 3 a plan; Fig. 4 an end view, partly in section, and detail views of the closing device for the box or casing.

The crank 1, moved in the direction of the arrow 2 is attached to disk 3, half of whose circumference is provided with Figs. 5 and 6.

ratchet teeth engaged by a'spring awl 4. A pivoted rod 5 is attached to the dis 3 and to an arm 6 keyed to a spindle 7 and rovided at its upper end with a hinged hoo 8, controlled 10 in a downward direction.

jection 'ch extends across the spindle 7 w w e other end with a second armfihaving thereon another pivoted hook 8, controlled s milarly to the first. A spring 12 (Fig. 3) is secured to and surrounds the spindle 7, its other end pressing ainst -a ed point 13. The rint' ro er 15 is faced with rubber or the e an is provided with a spindle 14 the two ends of which are eng ed in guides 16, 17, made in the twoside rackets 18. '1 hese guides form a continuous path comprising a curved portion 16, 16, 17, 17 these parts merging at the r ends. The roller is connected to a spring in a barrel 23, secured to a squared spindle 20, the spindle 14 being connecte sprocket-wheels 22 22, 20 one of the sprocket wheels 22 being constituted by the rim of-the barrel 23. order that the roller15 mayroll in the guides 17 and at the same time'exercise su cient pressure u on the printing surface, screws '86 ed whereby the whole lockwork by a spring) 9, the ivotal movement of the said hook eing limited by a e hol '70 width of 'the apparatus 1s providedat the and a straight portion d by chains 21 to keyed to the spindle may be raised and consequently the printing surface adjusted. Aframe 25 resting on four spring legs 27 and carrying a stretched ribbon 26 and also a paper b paper band is su plied from a spool 29 and is wound upon a rum 30, the latter normally participa in the movement of the barrel 23 b a spring pawl 32 (Fig.1). Adetent aw 31 is provided to prevent the drum 30 ron1 turning in the o posite tion during the movement oft e recording mechanism, that is, while the c linder -15 executes its printing movement. lever 39 is provld for disengag pawls 31 and 3 2.

the drum 30 from the two and seconds, and with openings 34 in which move hands 35 constituted by bracketshaped arms (Fig. 2) secured to spindles 36 operated by the clockwork. The spindles 36 project beyond the o posite side of the clockwork and are rovi ed there with ordinary hands 37 whic give the exact position for direct reading through a glazed portion 38 of the casing.

The arra'ngement of the frame 25 enables the ink-ribbon 26 to be stretched and wound up, so that it can be moved either to one side or to the other.

A disk 42 is provided upon the crank 1 f or producing the intermittent rotation of the drum 44 which is provided with corresponding notches a pin 43 being disposedupon said disk for that purpose and engaging said notches while a lever 47 enga es, by means of a fork 48' (Fig. 3) behind a isk or projection; 50 on the hollow s indle of the drum 44 and on the other hand, y means of a projection 49 in a helical guide or cam 51 secured to a fixed spindle 52. A handle 53 of the coupling lever 47 is arranged in a recess 54 of the box. The toothed or metal the advance notches on'the moved at 46. I

The parts comprising the closing device are portion limiting drum 44 is reas follows :Two hooks 56 are lprovided upon the cover and engage in ho s 57 in a bolt 58, which passes through the entire length of the box and has a button 59 at one end thereof. The button lies in a corresponding recess 60 a similar recess being rovided at the other end of the boltwhich fatter is perforated at 62 in order that a seal or other locking device may be aflixed thereto. The bolt is combined with a controlling device constituted b a rotary circular knife or cutter 64 (Fig. 4; provided with a button 65 and mounted on a carriage 66 suitably guided on rods 67 and attached by a cord 68 to a grooved pulley 69 controlled by a very strong helical spring 71, surrounding a spindle 70. The carriage 66 is, moreover, provided with two projections 72, 73, one directed laterally, 72, and the other downward 73 (Fig. 4) this latter taking the form of a pawl. The projections 72 73 engage with the notches of a trigger 74 connected by means of a pin 75 to the bolt, so. that, under the action of the latter,--it oscillates toward the right or the left about the point 76 and at the same time can slide upward or downward because of the slots 77, 78, 80. In this sliding movement the trigger is controlled by a s ring 79 and guided by fixing screw81 76' .ig. 1). The rotary cutter 64 during thewhole of its travel,

is kept by a movable spring plate 82 in. en'-1 said crank by the disk 3, draws the arms 6 forward in opposition to the spring 12 during of the rotation of the disk 3, during which the smooth portion of the circumference of the latter forces back the pawl 4. Before the connecting rod 5 has arrived at the dead center, the hooks 8 meet the that portion spindle 14 of the printing roller and slide with 13 eir inclined faces against and over the said spindle, and afterward. fall behind the said s indle. The crank 1 continuing to rotate the rod 5 pushes the arms 6 back, and from that moment the pawl 4 is in engagement with the ratchet teeth of the disk 3 thereby preventing return of the disk. The hooks S, participating in the movement of the arms 6 draw the roller 15 also backward. As the hooks 8 describe'an arc of a circle, the center of which is the center of rotation of the spindle 7 pthey move the spindle 14 into the guide portion 16, so that the cylinder 15, while be mg moved backward, is raised above the printing surface 19. The movement of the roller takes place in opposition to the action of the spring in the barrel 23 owing to its eonnection bythe chains 21 to the sprocketwheels 22 23. having the same center as the are described by the hooks and the center of the guide 16 being arranged at the point 24, the hooks 8 when coming near the end of their travel are 6. As soon as the hooks have arrived at the end of tlieir'travel, the spindle 14 pulled by extent, slides downward along the inner surfaces 8 of the hooks and leaves them as well as a small corresp'ondin inclined surface of the guides 16. The roller spindle is thereupon drawn rapidly along the straight portion 17 and returns to its original position owing to the action of the spring 12 in the direction shown by the arrow 11. During the backward movement ofthe hooks 8, the drum upon which the paper is woundis held and revented from turning in the op osite direction by means of the detent pawl 31. During the printing movement, the cylinder 15 rolls on the paper 28, pressing down the ink ribbon 26 and frame 25, and pressing the ace. It thus produces with great speed extremely clear printing on the outer surface of the aper, so that the printed matter can be read from the outside when the paper band passes under the glazed portion 33 of the casing ofthe apparatus.

The are of the guides 16 not paper and ribbon againstthe printing surdisengaged from the spindle 14, this being its spring which is tensioned to the greatest plate 82 results not gagged from 8' driving The drum 30 can be disengaged fromthe two awls 31, 32, so as to be capable or rotating oosely on the spindle when the apparatus is opened, and to enable the printed band to be, unwound. This disengaging is rendered possible by raising the lever 39, provided with an arm 40 which normally enters a s ace between the sprocket wheel 22 and the disk 41 of the drum 30. This space is arranged for the purpose of allowing the drum 30 to slide laterally and to bethus released from the ,pawls 31, 32, when the arm 40 is withdrawn from the said space, normally engaging, by means of its arm 40 between the sprocket wheel 22 and a disk 41 of the drum 30 provided with ratchet teeth. When the said lever'is raised, it is impossible to close the box asthe lever is of such dimensions that its u per part engages the interior of the lid. The reversal of the lever enables closing to be effected and brings about the engagement of the drum with the pawls 31, 32. The compartmented drum 44 rotates intermittently owing to the notches thereon corresponding to the pin 43 on the disk 42 so that the drum is advanced to the extent of one notchbefore each impression. The drum sto s at the correspondmg notch at the ast compartment which is preferably closed at the top, so as to.

cover the inlet hole. This sto page is due to the fact that the tooth or meta portion limitmg the advance notches is removed at the point 46. The drum is thrown into, or out of, engagement with the driving device 42 43 by means of the lever 47 which produces either a forward or a backward movement of the drum by which out of, or into, engagement with the driving it is respectively brought device 42 43. T e lever 47 being thrown back for the purpose of disengaging into the diametrically op osite position, and ,the handle comes on t e edge of the box or casing between the said edge and that of the cover 55, thus reventing the box from being closed as ong as the drum remains disengear. in remains dise it can be turned loosely, and the ri of the pigeons, or other -tokens, withdrawn rom it. When the box or case is closed and the bolt 58 is slipped into the closinglposition (Fig. 33 the hoo s 56 are held eir feet 63 while b t they can be disengaged from the holes 57 when the bolt is ushed into its opening sition (Fig. 6). r e; controlling device comes operative as soon as an attemp made .to push it into the opening ion. This release of the controlling device takes place owing to the movement of the trigger 74 connected to the bolt, the rota cutter 64 being thencaused to travel sharp y across the paper owingto the spring 71. The pressure of the spring only in the cut- 'tached to t lent attempt to open t While the the tension exerted byter 64 against the fixed blade, but also in forcing it to rotate, which results in the formation of continuously acting shears duringv the passage of the cutter, and in obtaining a clean cut of the paper band.

The device'is set before the paper band 28 is passed into the printing apparatus above the ribbon 26 etc. The carriage moved by means of the button 65 engages then, by means of its projection 73, with the lower edge of a notch 84 of special shape in the trigger 74, the screws 81 being at that moment below the vertical branch 80 of its guiding slot. This having been done, the paper band 28 is assed into the a paratus and athe drum 30. T e box is closed,

and this closing is secured-by pushing the bolt 58 into its closing position. The result of this movement that the lower end of the trigger is caused to move to the right when the projection 7 3 will be released and the pro-. jection 72, 'reviou'sly free, will engage the trigger at t e left hand side of the s 0t 84 (Fig. 1). As soon now as the bolt 58 is pushed back into its opening position, either or an authorized openfi or for any attempt to open, the trigger move toward t e left, an orifice 84 will come full in front of the projection 72 which, thus losing its support, will enable the cutter 64 to obi? the action of its spring and to move quicl y backward in the direction of the arrow 85 (Fig. 3) and cooperating with the fixed blade 83, to cut the paper ban'd. Any remature or frauduhe box will therefore result in preventing the paper band from being subsequently driven, while authorized 0 ning is also combined with the cutting of t e band printed upon in the normal manner.

What -I claim as in invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is:

1. In a time-recorder the combination of means for printing the time to be recorded, clock-mechanism continuously acting upon said rinting a paratus, an inked rib on stretc ed over t e surface of said printing a aratus, a recording 11 YJOD and the said rinting apparatus, a printing roller adapte to pass over the band and to press it against the prlntmglribbon, hand-rlilperated means for carryin t e printing ro er over the band out of contact with the latter, means for releasing said printing roller and automatic means for drawing the roller back over the band, and means engag the roller for pressing it upon the. band and causing the latter to receive'an impression from the time-printing apparatus.

7 2. In a time-recorder the combination of means for printing the time to be recorded, clock-mechanism continuously acting upon the printing apparatus, an inked ribbon and a recording band arran ed overthe printing surface, a printing rol= er, upper andlower' band passing over the guides en aged by the printing roller said upper ui es being adapted to lead the printing rol er over the band but out of contact recording band thereon, oscillatable levers,

I hand-operated meansfor oscillating said levers, hooks ivoted on said levers said hooks being ad ted to engage the printing cylinder and! to raw it over the printing surface in the dipper guides and to release the said rollerupon its reaching the opposite side of the rinting apparatus, and automatic means or drawing the roller back in the lower guides and pressing the recording band against the printing a paratus.

3. In a tlme-recor er the combination of means for printing the time to be recorded, clock-mechanism continuously acting upon the printing a paratus, a recording band arranged over t e rintingsurface, a printing roller, upper and ower guides engaged by the printing roller said upper guides being ad aptsurface but out of contact therewith and the lower guides being adapted to lead the printing roller over the printing surface and to ress the recording band thereon, oscillatab e levers, hand-o eratedmeans for oscillating said levers, ooks ivoted 011 said levers, said hooks being a( apt-ed to engage the printing roller-and to draw it over the printing surface in the upper guides and to release the said roller upon its reaching the opposite side of the rinting apparatus, 'ro-' tatable pulleys, a s ring drum tending to retard the rotation oithe pulleys in onedirection, flexible connections between the print- 'lng roller and the pulleys, said flexible connectlons being unwound from the pulleys when the printing roller is moved forward in the u per guides and drawing the printing roller ack in the lower guides when it is rewound upon said pulleys through the torsion of the spring drum.

In 'a time-recorder the combination of means for printing the time to be recorded,

\ clock-mechanism continuously acting on said out of contact wit simultaneously with the printing apparatus, a recording band passing over sald printing apparatus, means for adjustlng the height of the printing surface, a printing roller adapted to pass over the'band same and to return and press it against the printing surface, means or operating the printing roller, a disk havmg a smooth portion and a toothed a pawl adapted to engage the toot ed portlon, a connection betweemsaid disk and the printing roller operating rrri'ians,;hand-operated means for turniifg the disk and a drum having compartments adapted to receive tokens, said com artmerteg drum moving 1s In a time-recorder the combination of ed to lead the printing roller over the printing ortion,

printing apparatus, an inked ribbon stretched over the prlnting surface of said printing alpparatus, a recording band passing over t e ribbon and the said printing apparatus, a printing roller ada ted to pass over the band out of contact wit same and to return and press it against the printing ribbon above the printing surface of the printing apparatus, means for operating the printing roller, a disk having a smooth portion and a toothed portion,;a pawl adapted to engage the toothed portion, a connection between said disk and the printing roller operating means, handoperated means for turning the disk, and a drum having compartments adapted to receive tokens, said compartmented drum moving simultaneously with the disk.

6. In a time-recorder the combination of means for printing the time to be recorded, clock-mechanism continuously acting on said printing apparatus, an inked ribbon stretched over the printing surface of said printing apparatus, a recording band passing over the ribbon and the said printing apparatus, means for adjusting the height of the printing surface, a printing roller adapted to pass over the band out of contact with 'sameand to return and press it against the printing ribbon above the printing surface of the printing apparatus, means for operating the printing roller, a disk having a smooth portion and a toothed ortion, a pawl adapted to engage the toot led portion, a connection between said disk and the printing roller operating means, hand-operated means for turning the disk, and a drum having compartments adapted to receive tokens, said compartmented drum moving simultaneously with the disk, a casing inclosing the whole apparatus, closing means upon said casing, and means operated by the withdrawal of said closing means for cutting ofl the recording band.

7. In a time-recorderthe combination of means for printing the time to be recorded, clock-mechanism continuously acting on said printing apparatus, an inked ribbon stretched over the printing surface-of said printing a paratus, a recording band passing over t e ribbon and the said printing apparatus, a printing roller ada ted to pass over the band out of contact wit same and to return and press it against the printing ribbon, means for operating the printing roller, a disk having a smooth a pawl adapted to engage the toothed port1on,,a connection between said disk and the printing roller operating means, hand-operated means for turning the disk, a drum havlng compartments adapted to receive tokens, sa1d compartmented drum moving simultaneously with the disk, and means for dis- .engagmg the hand-operated disk driving portion and a toothed portion, I i

. ing mechanism,

mens from the compartmented drum-rotatname t0 this specification in d a dinclolslmglitile WlOlB iawo subscribing wltnesses. apparatus an prom e wit a. an an arm actuated u on the disengagement of the AL?RED IIIILIPPE AUGUSTE JEAN PLASSCHAERT. compartmente drum to prevent the box lid W1tnesses:

Y A.-GRAETZ,

from being closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my GREGORY PnELAN.

the presence of 

